Wynn is correct, crafting is a grind no matter what game is played. Much like enchanting armor and the like is also a grind, it's what keeps people playing MMOs.

And if something is fun, it isn't a grind.
There's some out there who find XIV's crafting fun and engaging which by what you said wouldn't make it a grind -- enjoyability is in the eye of the beholder, since we're all different with different tastes. Doing something over and over is what a grind technically is.